January 25, 2011

I'm not sure which schmo first dubbed the combination of rich chocolate, soft caramel, and toasted pecans, but I am sure that he could've come up with a much better name than 'turtles.'

Yes, I know certain regions of the world find actual turtles to be a yummy soup meat, but I have zero interest in consuming the critters. Why? I think it's because I feel sorry for them--anything that moves that slowly deserves at least a little bit of sympathy. Am I the only one who's tempted to stop the car and help a turtle cross the road when I drive up to one? Eh, maybe I am.

Moving on. These bars do not contain real turtle, and they are delicious. I'm pretty sure a layer of thick, chocolate-shmeared and pecan-studded caramel atop a shortbread crust is the definition of decadence. The name 'divinity' must've already been taken by those meringue-y candies at that point. Too bad.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Combine the crust ingredients in food processor or mixer and whirr until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Press onto the bottom of an ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan.
Combine butter, brown sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the entire surface of the mixture begins to boil. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour evenly over crust.
Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until entire caramel layer is bubbly, being careful not to overbake. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with chocolate chips; allow to melt slightly (2 to 3 minutes). Swirl the chips leaving some whole for a marbled effect. Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the chocolate and press in slightly. Cool completely; cut into bars.

The combination of chocolate, caramel, and pecans is hands-down my favorite thing in the world. These are perfection, and now I'm very jealous that I don't have some siting in front of me at this moment!

Well....I know they are called turtles because originally, pecans stuck out like little turtle legs.Your bars, however, feet or no feet, are absolutely perfect. Can't beat a combo of pecans, caramel and chocolate. Especially the caramel part.

Mmm...I do love turtles. (But I only eat the chocolate kind.) I'm also one of those people who'll stop to take a turtle to the other side of the road. I've heard that you're always supposed to take them to the side where they're headed, or they'll go right back again. These turtle bars look absolutely scrumptious, pecan feet or not!

I've never had a turtle bar Grace but they sure sound decadent. The closest I've come was at a restaurant a long, long, long time ago, and it was called a chocolate malted turtle, can't remember much about it but I think brownie, ice-cream, choc and caramel sauce was involved.

Going to try these ones out, just so I can say I made some turtles, heh :)

Turtles did het their name from the chocolate treat that comes from a box. They look like turtles with their pecan legs but are so much more delicious. I have been known to eat an entire box so would have a hard time stopping at one slice of your bar.

Hahah you're most certainly right and I never found the name particularly appealing. Though it does recall a fond memory for me of the first time my grandparents visited us from China and brought home a turtle they found by the road that they wanted to stew for dinner... You may be relieved to hear we made them set it free ;).

But you have seen the dollop of chocolate with the pecans making the legs, right? Turtle? They do look like turtles :) Your bars, on the other hand, remind me of the English Toffee I gobbled down this past weekend. I'm thinking that makes these turtle less turtle bars perfect. Try saying that 3 times fast.

Did you ever watch that show, "Everyone Hates Chris,'' about comedienne Chris Rock's childhood? On the show, his Mom's secret pleasure was her box of Turtles. Whenever life got too crazy, she'd settle in with a turtle or two to make everything right. I bet she would go crazy for these. ;)

Too funny. I've been reading about medieval cuisine ... and yes, they did actually did ... eat ... turtles. Glad to see there aren't any in your bars. I'm not so sure they'd enhance the shortbread. ;) They look scrumptious, as always!

I have helped a few turtles cross the road in my day..stopping 5 lanes of traffic. I am sure people were not pleased with my humanitarian efforts towards the poor turtle in rush hour traffic.But I sure do love the eat the candy variety!

The combination of chocolate, caramel and pecans does not make something a "turtle". A "turtle" is a candy that is made to look like a turtle. It is made by first laying down pecans, then laying some caramel on top of that and then finally chocolate on top of that. (picture of them are all over the internet).The pecans are put down in a way on the bottom that they end up looking like the turtle's feet. If they are made correctly, they do look like turtles. And they are delicious.Janet in Maine

A candy store in my neck of the woods make home made turtles, ones like the kind in the striped box, but a gazillion times better. These Turtle free Turtle bars look quite tempting....a little like English toffee. Must test these bad boys out :)

I only knew the name "turtles" from "everybody hates Chris"...the mother was so crazy for them...and things happened, mother grabbed a turtle...and life was immediately better. :-)) Would love to your version!

I too am a turtle saver. Once when I was lost in the hills of Kentucky, I had to bypass what appeared to be millions of little turtles migrating across the road. I guess that's why there was a Turtle Crossing sign in big letters a few miles ahead, lol.

As for naming these tasty treat, the only thing I can think of is when you use pecan halves and the chocolate peeks through it sorta kinda looks like a turtles back. Of course the caramel helps!

did you put the pecans on top of the crust in the ones pictured? your instructions say to combine the pecans w/the flour but i want to make sure that's right since it looks like you sprinkled them in the photo. thanks1